Advice Needed: Ashe’s Condo

[Jessie1990]

 I spent the last two days installing self-stick tiles and zipping NIC panels together. And then it occured to me that my tiles were very glossy and slippery… I have it all put together and Ashe has been allowed access for the last few hours. I was worried because she slid off the shelf on her first attempt to jump to the next level, so I ran to walmart and bought some fleece to put on the shelves and two rugs for the landings. I am worried that she will ingest fibers because she is a carpet chewer. Should I pull out the rugs and figure out something to do with the fleece? I wrapped fleece around the shelves, but it is not stapled. I have been looking for my staple gun in case I need to secure the fabric better. Right now it’s just held tight by the weight of the shelf. Will this be enough traction for Ashe? Am I just overthinking this? She has made the jump with no problem since the first time but she keeps zooming around the second level and I ‘m afraid she might slip through the hole. It’s not that big of a fall but I’m still nervous. 

I do not have enough money to rip the tiles out and buy new ones. So will this set up work or should I come up with a new plan?

[Jessie1990]

 

[Jessie1990]

Also, both shelves are covered with the black fleece. Not just the one.

[LittlePuffyTail]

The condo looks lovely! I don’t have much experience with condos as my buns’ are one-levels. Bindi has a small sitting shelf in his. I’m thinking cardboard. Wouldn’t looks as nice with cardboard covering those pretty tiles and not sure how you could secure it. Hopefully, someone else will have some ideas for you.

[Jessie1990]

I have plenty of cardboard because my bf is addicted to amazon I may end up doing that, but it won’t last long because she loves to eat that too…

[Amys Animals]

I have those same stick ons. They are very slippery! I use sea grass mats to cover parts of the condo I think need them. They work well. =)

[BB Administrator]

I wouldn’t staple the fabric only because you may need to wash it. Another idea are those things that you stick to floors in slippery areas. I can’t think of the name of those — usually they are placed in door ways or on stairs in commercial offices.

My bunny Jack, in his younger days, used to be a carpet chewer, but he never ingested his blankets. Vivian likes to put holes in blankets, but the pieces she chews up are on the floor not in her mouth, So some bunnies will chew, but not digest, so just keep an eye on that. Also even with fleece, it may slip, but you could try putting double stick velcro on the floor and the fleece should stick to that pretty well — that way you can wash the dirty fleece and put a new one in it’s place while it’s washing.

By the way, I am currently updating our Habitat Gallery and would love to add your condo to the Cube section. Let me know if you don’t want it featured otherwise, I am grabbing your photos and showing it off.

Oh, and when you get something that works for non-slippery stuff, post a photo so I can add that too. 

Helloworld!!

[Jesse97]

Maybe you could go out and buy a few cheap yoga mats and cut them to the size of your level these will probably stick well to the tile and you could also put the fleece on there without it sliding around to much. Hope this helped

[Amys Animals]

I don’t know that yoga mats would be safe for the bunny. A yoga mat can be made out of foam and rabbits can’t digest that if it gets into their system. I know I am lucky my buns haven’t figured out what they lie on is made from yummy chewy foam! I put a sheet over my foam mats so the buns can get to it.

Some rabbits, though, just don’t like to chew stuff like that.

[Jessie1990]

Thank you for all the ideas! I think I’m going to grab some Velcro on the way home from work in a few hours. I was actually going to post Ashe’s condo in that thread so thanks so much

[MoveDiagonally]

Do you have any leftover tile? Maybe take a piece and try scuffing it up a bit with sand paper. Enough for there to be a little grip. I would test it first on a spare piece and see if it works for those particular tiles.

(I have them too and lay down fleece blankets but there’s no levels in my condo)

[Jessie1990]

I do have spare tiles and sand paper! I might try that first since I have all the materials. My bf suggested roughing up the tile also

[Jessie1990]

 Now I’m starting to get nervous. Ashe hasn’t gone pee or poop since I moved her into the big condo. I actually threw out her other litter box because it had stains in it and I have another the same size. I’m hoping she doesn’t think she can’t use this new one because I trained her to use the other one… she has eaten some kale since I left. What should I do if there are still no poops by morning?

[Jessie1990]

Also, I don’t have any poops to put in the litter box… I cleaned them out. That may have resolved the problem Other than no poop she is acting completely normal.

[LittlePuffyTail]

How is Ashe today? Any poops?

[bunnygirl]

What about those things you pit under rugs when on tile floor to stop them being slippy. It’s like rubber in a criss cross pattern!

Oh just read your last post! How is Ashe today? Has the problem solved or is she still not pooping?

[Jessie1990]

 Well, Ashe has poops and pee in her litter box this morning! There is also a little less water in her bowl I think. I get super nervous if there are no poops because that’s how I realized Korra was sick and rushed her to the vet but the vet couldn’t save her I feel like there should be more poop, so I will keep an eye on her. I havn’t worked on the slippery situation yet becuase I wanted to get home right after work. I tried roughing up a tile with sandpaper but it still felt pretty slick. She seems to be getting around wonderfully with the fleece just tucked under the shelves so i may just leave it that way for awhile. Thanks for all of the advice!

[PurpleBunni]

How is Ashe? Any better?

[Jessie1990]

She is doing great! She has to stay with my parents the next couple days because the bug spray guy is coming Monday. I’m not supposed to have pets so I have to collapse the condo and put it under the bed I had a rabbit in my first appartment and couldn’t stand not having a rabbit around.., not the best decision, but I have options if I am asked to get rid of her (none of them include getting rid of her). Anyway, the bug guy comes every three months. He was due a month ago so I figured they forgot or changed how often. Of course he decides to come the week after the condo is built. Anyway, I will be adding some changes to make navigation a bit easier for Ashe. She’s free roaming at my parents during the day but stuck in her crappy cage at night. I’m going to look into an x-pen to leave at their house and just use the petstore cage for in the car. She loves my parents house. They have an open floor plan with hard wood floors so she zooms around and I showed my parents how she plays tag surprisingly my dad likes her (he’s a hunter and hates cats).

[PurpleBunni]

That’s great news that she is feeling better! As for the apartment, are you sue the rabbit is a problem? Most communities don’t count caged animals and hate for you to be going through that trouble unnecessarily.

[jerseygirl]

The binder clips work well for securing fleece.

Another idea is to glue thin strips of wood across the vinyl tile to give extra traction on a jump. Similar to what you see on condo ramps. Something like flat wooden beading. If you used hot glue, it should be able to be removed at a later date without damaging the tile. It also doesn’t smell like other glues.

[Ella K.]

You could use guinea pig fleece flippers.
http://www.guineapigmarket.com/about-fleece-flippers

They are a really excellent design!

[Jessie1990]

I am almost certain that the rabbit would be a problem. I asked to bring my salamander when I first moved in and they said the most I could have is a betta. BUT due to the fact that we have been the only tenants that have stayed since they remodeled the place and have never had issues with them, I think I may be able to convince them somehow if needed. I just don’t want to risk it. I start a teaching job in August, and I have permission to bring the rabbit to school (not actually going to happen, but the principle thought it would be cool to have an Art Rabbit… too stressful for a bunny… not to mention Ashe is very space aggressive if not approached correctly.) I figured if needed, I could tell the landlord she is my classroom rabbit and has to come home in the evenings

She traveled with me to my parents house for a couple days and I just left her their overnight, Monday and picked her up Tuesday. My parents love her and keep calling her the Grandbunny So she may just stay with them on bug spray days every three months. I think tearing her cage down every three months is worth not taking a huge risk of moving (getting rid of her is not an option.)

[Jessie1990]

Also, she has been doing great with the rugs and hasn’t chewed them. She likes to dig them around her cage but she hasn’t been eating/nibbling them so I think I’m going to go that route. I also took the opportunity to fine tune the floor plan of the cage and lowered the levels a little for easier access

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